Folding door controlling hardware



ug- 11, 1964 L. R. DlcKlNsoN ETAL 3,144,077

FOLDING DooR CONTROLLING HARDWARE Filed Dec. 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 :Fil Il l l I l INVENTORS.

A1 TTORNEV Aug. v11, 1964 Filed Dec. l2, 1962 L. R. DICKINSON ETAL FOLDING DOOR CONTROLLING HARDWARE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AWWA/16.

Allg 11, 1964 R. DlcKiNsoN ETAL 3,144,077

FOLDING DOOR CONTROLLING HARDWARE Filed Dec. l2, 1962 4 sheds-sheet s E 7mm/sys.

Aug 11, 1964 L.. R. DlcKlNsoN ETAL 3,144,077

rFOLDING DooR coNTRoLLNG HARDWARE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l i N g Filed Deo. l2, 1962 INVENTORS. LLOYD R. DICK/NSN BY WML/4M V. I/SLSALO wwmcmqlacm @awww ATTORNEYS.

w I# J M QP @MJ n v \m IIIIII Illt I Ilhll Ill. fll ||T||||+||-M-!LI Il. ILV IIIIIIIIIIIIIII Il Il .I-VInll N @V United States Patent O 3,144,077 FDLDING DOOR CONTROLLING HARDWARE Lloyd R. Dickinson and William V. Vessalo, Plttsburgh, Pa., assigners to McKinney Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 244,111 6 Claims. (Cl. Mtl- 206) This invention relates to folding doors, and more particularly to the hardware that controls the motion of such doors as they are opened and closed.

A well-known type of folding door includes a pair of vertical panels that are hinged together, with one of the panels hinged to the side of a door frame. When the door is closed the panels are disposed in the same vertical plane. Extending along the top of the door and rigidly fastened to the door frame above it is a track, in which there is a guide member mounted on a pivot pin secured to the door near its free edge. When the door is opened, the hinged adjoining edges of the panels are compelled to move forward and simultaneously toward the side of the door frame because the guide member moves toward that side in the track. Such a door can be opened only about 90. With heavy doors, the opening and closing is likely to require considerable effort because the guide member tends to bind in the rigid track due to its having to travel in the plane of the doorway while the hingedtogether edges of the door panels are moving forward out of that plane. Also, with such a construction, it is impossible for the door to be opened 180 in order to swing it back completely away from the doorway and against the wall in which the doorway is located.

Folding door hardware has been produced for the purpose of permitting such doors to be opened 180, but there still is room for improvements which the invention disclosed herein brings about. The improvements include less friction and easier operation.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide folding door controlling hardware of such construction and so arranged that the door can be opened and closed more easily than heretofore, and which permits a door to be opened 180.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a front view of a pair of folding doors mounted in a doorway;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section looking downward from the top of the tracks in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the doors open;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the upper part of the lefthand door, with parts of the track broken away;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical sections taken on the lines V-V and VI-VL respectively, of FIG. 4;

door;

FIG. 8 is a plan view, taken on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, with part of the track broken away; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary vertical sections taken on the lines IX-IX and X--X, respectively, of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a door frame 1 is shown mounted in a wall 2 near a corner of a room. The frame provides a large doorway that normally is closed by two folding doors L and R in the same vertical plane, which are supported by hinges 3 on the opposite sides of the frame. The inner or free edges of the door are disposed close together. Each door is formed from a pair of vertical panels 4 and 5 or 6 and 7, the adjacent edges of which are joined together at the back of the door by hinges 8. A pull handle or knob 9 is FIG. 7 is a View, similar to FIG. 4, of the right-hand v ice mounted on the front of each inner panel for opening and closing the doors.

Since the left-hand door L is near the corner of the room, it cannot be opened more than about because the side wall 11 of the room will prevent further opening. To control this door as it is opened so that it will fold as it swings on its supporting hinges 3, a track 12 is connected to the top of the door frame above the closed door. Preferably, this track is hollow and is in the shape of an inverted channel as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Guiding means extend upward from both panels 4 and 5 into the track to control the movements of the panels as door L is opened and closed. It is preferred that the guiding means be formed from guide members 13 and 14 inside the track mounted on pivot pins 15 and 16, respectively, that extend down into the tops of the underlying panels, into which the pins are screwed. The outer pin 15 is connected to the outer panel a few inches from the outer edge of the door, while the inner pin 16 is connected to the inner panel near its free edge. The exact locations of the pins along the panels are not critical. The guide members slide along the track and may be made circular so that they also can rotate on the pins.

Another feature of the invention is that track 12 is not rigidly fastened to the door frame, but is pivoted directly to it. For this purpose, the top of the track is provided with a hole 18 (FIG. 4) near its inner end, through which extends a screw 19 that fastens the track to the overlying door frame. The screw is not drawn up tight, so the track can swing horizontally on it. The exact 1ocation of the pvot point along the track is not critical, but preferably is between the two guide members.

When door L is opened, the outer guide member or slide 13 swings the outer end of the track forward as both guide members travel along the inside of the track toward its outer end as shown in FIG. 3. The location of the outer guide member relative to the outer panel 4 preferably is such that by the time the outer panel extends perpendicular to the plane of the doorway, the outer guide member is at the outer end of the track but not separated from it. The guide member can be stopped in this position either by a door stop fastened to the side wall 11 of the room or by a stop inside the track engaged by the inner guide member or slide 14. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stop may be made from a block 21 of rubber or the like held in a flexible metal U-shape clamp 22 that has been slid into the track. The bottom of the clamp is provided with a central threaded opening, up through which and the block a set screw 23 extends. The upper end of the screw engages the upper part of the clamp so that when the screw is tightened the clamp will be spread vertically and pressed tightly against the top and bottom of the track channel to hold the stop in place.

For best results, the inner guide member is located close enough to the free edge of the inner panel 5 to position that panel at an acute angle to the other one when the latter is parallel to the side wall. The reason for this is to make it easier to start the door toward closing position. Due to the fact that the outer end of the track swings forward when the door is opened, the guide members travel along the track at a more desirable angle to the plane of the doorway than they would if the track could not swing. Consequently, less effort is required to open and close the door.

The right-hand side of the door frame not being close to a wall at right angles to the frame, it is desirable and possible with this invention to open the rightehand door R or thereabouts, which means that the door can be swung back toward wall 2 as shown in FIG. 3. To To permit this wide opening of the door, the top of the track 25 above the closed door is provided with a hole 26 (FIG. 7) for a pivot 27 connecting the track to the top of the door frame in the same way as the other track. This track likewise preferably contains a downwardly opening channel 28 (FIG. 10). However, unlike at the other side of the doorway, there are not two guide members sliding in the same channel, but in parallel paths. P[here are guiding means near the free edge of door R and near its outer or hinged edge and both of them are connected with the track, but they are considerably different in form from the guiding means used with the other door. The guiding means for the inner panel 6 is formed from a guide member or slide 29 that is considerably longer than it is wide and that is slidably mounted in track channel 28. This slide is provided with a vertical longitudinally extending slot 30 for a purpose that will be explained later. Extending up into the outer end of the slot when the door is closed is a pivot pin 31 that is anchored at the top of the inner panel near its free edge, such as being screwed into the panel. The other guiding means connected with the track also includes an elongated sliding guide member 32, but its outer end is provided with a vertical opening 33 that receives a pivot pin 34 which is secured to the outer panel 7 near its outer edge, preferably against the back of the panel. This guide member is not mounted in the main channel 28 of the track, but in an auxiliary or rear channel 35 that is formed along the back of the track and that opens rearwardly. This channel has vertical flanges 36 that project toward each other, and guide member 32 is provided with longitudinal grooves 37' that receive the flanges so that it can slide lengthwise of the track. However, its movement along the track is quite short.

When the door is opened, the outer pin and guide member 32 cause the outer end of the track to swing forward on its pivot 27, and simultaneously therewith, the pin 31 at the free edge ofthe door slides along the slot 30 in slide 29 until it reaches its opposite end and then it pulls the slide along the track toward the outer end of the track. When the door is open 90, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, both slides will still be located entirely within their respective track channels. However, as the door is swung on around to the 180 position, both slides are pulled part way out of the outer end of the track, but both slides are long enough to still extend far enough into the track to keep them properly connected to it. It will be seen that in the 180 position the pivot pin 31 at the free edge of the door has moved to a position in front of the outer pivot pin 34 and also that slide 29 is directly in front of the outer guide member 32. When the door is closed, the pin 31 rst moves along the slot in slide 29 until it reaches its inner end and then it carries the slide along with it until the door is completely closed.

The reason for the slot in the slide is to prevent the inner pivot pin from pulling that slide entirely out of the track when the door is wide open and yet prevent the pin from moving any part of the slide out of the inner end` of the track when the door is closed. In some installations and some door opening angles, it would be possible to do away with slot 30 by adjusting the position of the inner pivot pin along the inner panel.

This construction of the door controlling hardware not only permits a door to be opened 180, but in the case of both doors, it makes the opening and closing easier than if the tracks could not pivot. In both cases the tracks are disposed directly above the doors and serve as attractive metal trim across the tops of the doors when they are closed. Neither track is ever moved lengthwise; it can pivot only.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

l. The combination with a pair of vertical door panels in the same plane hinged together edge to edge and adapted to be disposed in a door frame with the outer edge of one panel hinged to one side of the frame so that the panels can be folded toward each other and simultaneously swung forward out of the frame, of a longitudinally stationary horizontal track extending along the tops of the panels, a pivot pin extending upward from said one panel near its outer edge, a guide member supported by the track adjacent one end and slidable lengthwise thereof, said member being provided with a vertical opening receiving the upper end of said pivot pin, a slide supported by the opposite end of the track and slidable lengthwise thereof along a path parallel to the path of movement of said guide member, the slide being provided with a vertical slot extending lengthwise of theY track, and a pivot pin extending upward from the other panel near its free edge and into the outer end of said slot, the last-mentioned pivot pin being movable by said other panel to the opposite end of said slot as the door is opened, said opposite end of the track being provided with a vertical hole adapted to receive a stationary fastener for pivoting the track to the top of the door frame to permit the other end of the track to be swung forward by said guide member as the door is opened, the guide member and slot being long enough to project lengthwise from said other end of the track when the door is opened about 2. In the combination recited in claim l, said track is hollow, said guide member is slidably mounted on the back of the track, and said slide is disposed inside the track.

3. In the combinaton recited in claim l, said track is provided with a longitudinally extending downwardly openmg main channel and is provided behind said channel with a parallel rearwardly opening rear channel, said gulde member being slidably mounted in said rear channel, and said slide being slidable in said main channel.

f1. Folding door controlling hardware for use with a pa1r of vertical door panels in the same plane hinged together edge to edge and adapted to be disposed in a door frame with the outer edge of one panel hinged to one side of the frame so that the panels can be folded toward each other and simultaneously swung forward out of the frame, said hardware comprising a horizontal track adapted to extend along the tops of the panels, a guide member extending lengthwise of the track and supported thereby adjacent one end and slidable lengthwise thereof, a vertical pivot pin connected to the guide member and extending downward therefrom for attachment to said one panel near its outer edge, a slide extending lengthwise of the track and supported by the opposite end of the track and slidable lengthwise thereof along a path parallel to the path of movement of said guide member, the slide being provided with a vertical slot extending lengthwise of the track, and a pivot pin normally in the outer end of said slot and extending downward therefrom for attachment to the other panel near its free edge, the last-mentioned pivot pin being movable by said other panel to the opposite end of said slot as the door is opened, said opposite end of the track being provided with a vertical hole only large enough to receive a stationary fastener for pivotally fastening the track to the top of the door frame in longitudinally stationary position while permitting the other end of the track to be swung forward by said guide member as the door is opened, the guide member and slide being long enough to project lengthwise from said other end of the track when the door is opened about 180.

5. Folding door hardware according to claim 4, in which said track is hollow, said guide member is slidably mounted on the back of the track, and said slide is disposed inside the track.

5 6 y6. Folding door hardware according to claim 4, in References Cited in the file of this patent which said track is provided with a longitudinally ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS tending downwardly opening main channel and is provided behind said channel with a parallel rearwardly 1,063,605 Scarborough June 3, 1913 opening rear channel, said guide member being slidemy 5 2,366,793 Kuehner J an. 9, 1945 mounted in said rear channel, and said slide being slid- 2,882962 Hollanswofth APR 21, 1959 able in said main channel. 311293168 Ogbum et al- APL 17, 1962 3,111,165 Nelson Nov. 19, 19163 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A PAIR OF VERTICAL DOOR PANELS IN THE SAME PLANE HINGED TOGETHER EDGE TO EDGE AND ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN A DOOR FRAME WITH THE OUTER EDGE OF ONE PANEL HINGED TO ONE SIDE OF THE FRAME SO THAT THE PANELS CAN BE FOLDED TOWARD EACH OTHER AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SWUNG FORWARD OUT OF THE FRAME, OF A LONGITUDINALLY STATIONARY HORIZONTAL TRACK EXTENDING ALONG THE TOPS OF THE PANELS, A PIVOT PIN EXTENDING UPWARD FROM SAID ONE PANEL NEAR ITS OUTER EDGE, A GUIDE MEMBER SUPPORTED BY THE TRACK ADJACENT ONE END AND SLIDABLE LENGTHWISE THEREOF, SAID MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A VERTICAL OPENING RECEIVING THE UPPER END OF SAID PIVOT PIN, A SLIDE SUPPORTED BY THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TRACK AND SLIDABLE LENGTHWISE THEREOF ALONG A PATH PARALLEL TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID GUIDE MEMBER, THE SLIDE BEING PROVIDED WITH A VERTICAL SLOT EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE TRACK, AND A PIVOT PIN EXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE OTHER PANEL NEAR ITS FREE EDGE AND INTO THE OUTER END OF SAID SLOT, THE LAST-MENTIONED PIVOT PIN BEING MOVABLE BY SAID 